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University of Maine Off-season 2024: Insert Pun Here

With the college hockey season starting tonight at 11:00 I wanted to give me thoughts…

I’m really excited for the season ahead. I don’t think Maine will be as good as last year but will still be reasonably competitive and I have them finishing fifth. The conference schedule isn’t as favorable this year where Maine has to play twice at Providence, Northeastern, and UMA and Maine didn’t come close to replacing Brad Nadeau.

The biggest thing I would like to see is some of the freshmen look like solid players and some recruits have breakout seasons. Recruiting looks much better than it did a year or two ago and obviously Maine will need a big influx of talent after this year.

The league doesn’t have the star power it did a year ago but it should still be another really good year for Hockey East. I think the top eight teams all have a legit NCAA chance which is pretty impressive.
 
With the college hockey season starting tonight at 11:00 I wanted to give me thoughts…

I’m really excited for the season ahead. I don’t think Maine will be as good as last year but will still be reasonably competitive and I have them finishing fifth. The conference schedule isn’t as favorable this year where Maine has to play twice at Providence, Northeastern, and UMA and Maine didn’t come close to replacing Brad Nadeau.

The biggest thing I would like to see is some of the freshmen look like solid players and some recruits have breakout seasons. Recruiting looks much better than it did a year or two ago and obviously Maine will need a big influx of talent after this year.

The league doesn’t have the star power it did a year ago but it should still be another really good year for Hockey East. I think the top eight teams all have a legit NCAA chance which is pretty impressive.

I think the schedule averages out. Yes they will be at Providence for 2, but they have BU for 2 at home. UMA has played favorably at Alfond last 2 years maybe it will behove them to play away. As for Brad, yes he was not replaced but the sum of the parts will outweigh his depature. This team is fast, heavy, and can wear you down. Brad is a talent but he isn't a heavy body or a grinder. This team has alot of heavy players and scorers and I think they will be every bit as good this year if not better. This team suits Barr's coaching style better: forecheck, wear you down, physical play, scoring, and special teams. We will see how it shakes out but no doubt they need to keep the talent influx coming in.
 
We won't know if Maine are better or worse until we see them play. The whole D group returned adding FD. You have to think they will be better. Losing BN was a blow, but they added some size and power in Mitton and Makar. They might have to replace BN's goals by committee, but the team looks deeper. A healthy Renwick, would be a big boost too.
 
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We won't know if Maine are better or worse until we see them play. The whole D group returned adding FD. You have to think they will be better. Losing BN was a blow, but they added some size and power in Mitton and Makar. They might have to replace BN's goals by committee, but the team looks deeper. A healthy Renwick, would be a big boost too.

A healthy Renwick is a big boost, he missed quite a bit of time last year with injuries.
 
We won't know if Maine are better or worse until we see them play. The whole D group returned adding FD. You have to think they will be better. Losing BN was a blow, but they added some size and power in Mitton and Makar. They might have to replace BN's goals by committee, but the team looks deeper. A healthy Renwick, would be a big boost too.

Bradley has a world class one timer and great chemistry with his brother but could not protect a puck or dangle to save his life. Sully’s puck protection and dangling skills are worlds better than Brad’s. If Sully can work well with Josh and Breen, then Brad won’t be missed.
 
Bradley has a world class one timer and great chemistry with his brother but could not protect a puck or dangle to save his life. Sully’s puck protection and dangling skills are worlds better than Brad’s. If Sully can work well with Josh and Breen, then Brad won’t be missed.

I for one wont miss BN, dont think the chemistry was good there with the team. There was plenty to pick on with his overall game, yes he was an offensive threat with Josh. The better overall player of the two brothers stayed. BN and his Dad didnt care for the the coach staff Ive heard, I suppose they wanted something they couldnt get. Barr certainly had frustrations with him too. Overall its good that he moved on, let Barr coach the boys and run the program his way we dont need a primadonna that mucks up things. There!
 
I for one wont miss BN, dont think the chemistry was good there with the team. There was plenty to pick on with his overall game, yes he was an offensive threat with Josh. The better overall player of the two brothers stayed. BN and his Dad didnt care for the the coach staff Ive heard, I suppose they wanted something they couldnt get. Barr certainly had frustrations with him too. Overall its good that he moved on, let Barr coach the boys and run the program his way we dont need a primadonna that mucks up things. There!

I don’t understand why the badmouthing of Brad. He was a great player for Maine and was a true freshman. It comes off as ungrateful. Maine is fortunate he played there. Sour grapes over him leaving doesn’t mean you should diminish what he accomplished and how well he played. Go ask Barr, he would take another Brad Nadeau over virtually all of the recruits on the Heisenberg list for Maine. 19 and in the NHL and you two guys are claiming he was no good. Get real.
 
I don’t understand why the badmouthing of Brad. He was a great player for Maine and was a true freshman. It comes off as ungrateful. Maine is fortunate he played there. Sour grapes over him leaving doesn’t mean you should diminish what he accomplished and how well he played. Go ask Barr, he would take another Brad Nadeau over virtually all of the recruits on the Heisenberg list for Maine. 19 and in the NHL and you two guys are claiming he was no good. Get real.

Sorry just what I think. Its not sour grapes nor bad mouthing. Theres reality there.
 
It wouldn’t shock me if Brad didn’t have the greatest attitude, wasn’t a good teammate, whatever else but his production will be sorely missed this year. There can’t be many 18 year olds who have put up more than 45 points in a season in the last 20 years.
 
I don’t understand why the badmouthing of Brad. He was a great player for Maine and was a true freshman. It comes off as ungrateful. Maine is fortunate he played there. Sour grapes over him leaving doesn’t mean you should diminish what he accomplished and how well he played. Go ask Barr, he would take another Brad Nadeau over virtually all of the recruits on the Heisenberg list for Maine. 19 and in the NHL and you two guys are claiming he was no good. Get real.

I can confirm there was friction between BN and the staff but ultimately BN and his family wanted the $$$ so he signed the contract. I can't judge that.
 
I don’t understand why the badmouthing of Brad. He was a great player for Maine and was a true freshman. It comes off as ungrateful. Maine is fortunate he played there. Sour grapes over him leaving doesn’t mean you should diminish what he accomplished and how well he played. Go ask Barr, he would take another Brad Nadeau over virtually all of the recruits on the Heisenberg list for Maine. 19 and in the NHL and you two guys are claiming he was no good. Get real.

World class one timer. That’s not bad mouthing. Celebrini had almost the same shot, but I’d say Brad’s was a bit more accurate.

If Brad was already past defensemen, one on one, he would often score, but if he carried the puck in with D in front of him, he stick handled right in front of himself and always tried to go straight ahead and had the puck knocked off his stick or he’d fail to flip it between the skates of the D…it never worked once.

Niko carried the puck infinitely better as a freshman. Josh carries the puck infinitely better, and Sully carries it better.
 
World class one timer. That’s not bad mouthing. Celebrini had almost the same shot, but I’d say Brad’s was a bit more accurate.

If Brad was already past defensemen, one on one, he would often score, but if he carried the puck in with D in front of him, he stick handled right in front of himself and always tried to go straight ahead and had the puck knocked off his stick or he’d fail to flip it between the skates of the D…it never worked once.

Niko carried the puck infinitely better as a freshman. Josh carries the puck infinitely better, and Sully carries it better.

Brad played off wing, carrying the puck in usually on the left side as a righty. Not as easy for sure. At the same time he tied for the team lead in assists at 27. When people say the two brothers know where each other are and have a knack for finding each other then vision and passing are part of that too. He was more than just a pure shooter. The three assists to his brother’s hat trick is a good example. I feel like the only thing he was lacking was 100% effort at back-checking. But when he did back check he had some pretty great plays. He was a great player form Maine and tough to replace. I’m very happy he played for Maine and would love more players like him to be sprinkled in. Makes the power play unit so much better. I think Mitton has a great one timer too. And I think Pichette may also based on limited viewing of Bchl clips. Not sure he gets to play on power play this year though. But Mitton likely will man the left dot like Brad did last year on the power play.

Now I mentioned the Brad assisting Josh’s hat trick against UNH and I don’t want people(Chuck mostly) to have trouble finding it on YouTube so here it is…. https://youtu.be/YiZ8VE1zSr8?si=HO48TQNFVZAi6Q49
 
I just checked and it appears as though they are sold out at Matthew’s Arena vs. Northeastern on the 26th. I managed to get tickets with ease for Friday. Not sure why ample tickets for Friday but nothing on Saturday???

It appears they are holding back tickets for half/full season ticket plans. More should be released closer to time.
 
Brad played off wing, carrying the puck in usually on the left side as a righty. Not as easy for sure. At the same time he tied for the team lead in assists at 27. When people say the two brothers know where each other are and have a knack for finding each other then vision and passing are part of that too. He was more than just a pure shooter. The three assists to his brother’s hat trick is a good example. I feel like the only thing he was lacking was 100% effort at back-checking. But when he did back check he had some pretty great plays. He was a great player form Maine and tough to replace. I’m very happy he played for Maine and would love more players like him to be sprinkled in. Makes the power play unit so much better. I think Mitton has a great one timer too. And I think Pichette may also based on limited viewing of Bchl clips. Not sure he gets to play on power play this year though. But Mitton likely will man the left dot like Brad did last year on the power play.

Now I mentioned the Brad assisting Josh’s hat trick against UNH and I don’t want people(Chuck mostly) to have trouble finding it on YouTube so here it is…. https://youtu.be/YiZ8VE1zSr8?si=HO48TQNFVZAi6Q49

That last goal by Josh looked so easy. Can't be sad Brad left as we got to see them together for one year. Good stuff.
 
That last goal by Josh looked so easy. Can't be sad Brad left as we got to see them together for one year. Good stuff.

brad is a great passer. Yes the nadeaus were a pair of passing paul kariyas…i did not mean that his only attribute was his one timer.

brad had a beautiful assist yesterday in a preseason game that made the goal look easy.
 
I figured with the collegiate season about to start, and many junior leagues already under way, that I'd update the recruit stats spreadsheet. As always, there was some guesswork on arrival year, and it may not end up being accurate. I was primarily interested in seeing which team and league each player was playing in; very heavy representation from the BCHL, with a sizeable cohort of NAHL and USHL guys as well. I'd call that a good sign in general, as I think most would agree those are the three leagues that will give you the most good collegiate players. I found the forwards interesting just for how many of then there are, and goaltenders also interesting since there's two pretty good ones in the recruiting pipeline, while also having three (!) goalies on the NCAA roster who are sophomores or younger. I didn't realize that the other Latvian goalie recruit is already drafted, Montreal property. Don't be too alarmed at Ryder Shea's stats, I looked up the boxscore of the game to see what happened, and he only played the third period in relief of the pulled starter who had already allowed seven goals. He made six saves on eight shots in that third period. Otherwise, too early to draw any truly meaningful conclusions from stats after so few games. If you notice anything off base, of course please let me know so I can fix it.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LVPOTKnji-x_rqcbThYOfJZnJ8jnjgEWkAaS3LapaZ4/edit?usp=sharing
 
I figured with the collegiate season about to start, and many junior leagues already under way, that I'd update the recruit stats spreadsheet. As always, there was some guesswork on arrival year, and it may not end up being accurate. I was primarily interested in seeing which team and league each player was playing in; very heavy representation from the BCHL, with a sizeable cohort of NAHL and USHL guys as well. I'd call that a good sign in general, as I think most would agree those are the three leagues that will give you the most good collegiate players. I found the forwards interesting just for how many of then there are, and goaltenders also interesting since there's two pretty good ones in the recruiting pipeline, while also having three (!) goalies on the NCAA roster who are sophomores or younger. I didn't realize that the other Latvian goalie recruit is already drafted, Montreal property. Don't be too alarmed at Ryder Shea's stats, I looked up the boxscore of the game to see what happened, and he only played the third period in relief of the pulled starter who had already allowed seven goals. He made six saves on eight shots in that third period. Otherwise, too early to draw any truly meaningful conclusions from stats after so few games. If you notice anything off base, of course please let me know so I can fix it.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LVPOTKnji-x_rqcbThYOfJZnJ8jnjgEWkAaS3LapaZ4/edit?usp=sharing

Looks like another defensemen recruit, Wade Weil - LD - 6’1” 175 lbs - Maine Nordiques(NAHL)

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/722923/wade-weil
 
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